Organ-valve unit



Feb. 18, 1930. G, E LA MARCHE; 1,747,370

ORGAN VALVE UNIT Filed Jan. 5, '1927 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 GEORGE E. LA MARCHE, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOS ORGN-VALVE UNIT Application filed January 5, L92?.

This invention relates to organs, and more particularly concerns the pn-eumatically actuable valves which are used in various parts oi such instruments to control the airpassage therein.

One object oi the invention is to provide a simple and economically constructed valveunit which may be individually assembled, tested, and adjusted in accordance with predetermined standards before being placed in position, and which may be manufactured in quantities, in standard sizes, and carried in stock, ir" preferred, ready for immediate use. Another object is to provide a valve-unit so constructed that it may be easily placed in correct position, and subsequently removed or exchanged without necessitating the dismantling er disorganization of other parts. Further objects are to provide a. valve-unit so constructed that it is especially adapted Jfor employment in locations di'liicult or" access, will be exceptionally etlicient and responsive in operation and, when in operative position, will provide tor the tree circulation and passage of air to the air-passage controlled thereby.

in the drawings- Figure l is a sectional view of part of an organ pipe-valve-chest, illustrating a valveunit constructed according to this invention and employed as an organ pipe-valve;

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. l, illustrating the adaptability of the valveunit to differently constructed valve-chests;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of valveunits constructed according to this invention, showing different forms of construction thereof; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views ot parts shown in Figs. 4t and 5, respectively.

In pipe-organ construction, certain types ot pipe-valve-chests are provided with individual valves to control the passage of airpressure or wind to each pipe, and it has been found that diaphragm-valves are especially suitable for this purpose for a number of reasons, among which are that they may be compactly arranged in the necessarily limited space, po-ssess a minimum number ot operating parts, are sturdy and yet responsive Serial No. `i59,120.

and delicate in operation, and usually require very little attention and adjustment. Diaphragm-valves are usually formed of circular pieces ot flexible, air-tight material which are cemented or otherwise secured about their edges to cover individual air chambers or recesses in a xed member, such as a valve-shelf or pouch-board, and these chambers or recesses are connected with means through which air-pressure is supplied thereto and released (and sometimes withdrawn) therefrom. In some arrangements, such that illustrated in Fig. 8 herein, the diaphragm itself, when distended, may act to cover the port which it is designed to control, but in most instances the center of the diaphragm is provided with a valve-disc, t-he latter being considered as the more reliable construct-ion and affording a somewhat freer circulation and passage of air to the port, when open. However, whether the diaphragm itself serves as a valve or whether it carries the aforesaid centrally arranged valve-disc, it must be positioned reasonably close to the port which it controls and, in most if not all instances, it is practically impossible to observe whether or not the port is properly covered. The removal ot ani obstruction is even more ditlicult, since the closely grouped arrangement of the valves, as well as their close positioning with respect to their ports, renders access thereto almost impossible. A further and perhaps even more serious difcult-y has been that, where the diaphragme are secured directly upon a valve-shelf or pouch-board, as aforesaid, the proper service of wind to the pipes has been materially obstructed by the shell", which must be positioned close enough to permit the diaphragms, when distended, to close the ports.

Various attempts have been made to facilitate the examination and adjustment of pipevalves. Diiierent types of valves and different constructions of valve-chests have been devised for the purpose, and provisions have been made whereby diaphragm-valve-units may be removably secured in position, but it appears that, where such individually removable diaphragm-valve-nnits have been provided, they have been secured in position by screws or other securing means, by which they are clamped down tightly upon packing material to insure their air-tight connection with their respective control ducts or channels. Manifestly, with the aforesaid necessary close-up arrangement of the diaphragme, and considering the well known fact that they are located within the usually massive pipevalve-chest to which access is at best inconvenient, the diiiiculty in reaching and releasing such screws Vor securing means, without damaging some of the closely arranged parts, would be fully as great as the previously described diiiiculty in observing and adjusting the xed type of diaphragm-valve, andthe replacement or exchange of such diaphragmvalve-units would entail the re-location and tightening of thef'securing means, which would be an even more diicult operation.

The present valve-unit is primarily designed for use as a pipe-valve, and it has been shown as such in the drawings, arranged in various positionsrto illustrate its adaptability to the requirements of different types of pipe-valve-chests, but, while it is especially adapted for such service and, when so employed, avoids the hereinbefore mentioned difficulties usually pertaining to pipe-valves, it is to be understood that it is by no means limited to such use. It may be equally well employed to control many of the various airpassages and possesses many desirable features which qualify it for genera-l use throughout the instrument.

Referring, first, to Figs. 4 and 5, it may be explained that the valve-unit comprises a stool-shaped body 1, having a cup 2 and a centrally arranged hollow shank or supportstem 3. The'body 1 may be formed, as represented in Fig. 4, with a wall of substantial thickness, such as would be desirable for strength if the `body were constructed of frangible material or if it were formed by die-casting in a pressure-die, or, as represented in Fig. 5, the wall may be much thinner, such as would be preferable if the body were drawn or spun from sheet-metal. A flexible membrane or diaphragm 4, of leather, rubbercloth, or other suitable air-tight, flexible material, is arranged to cover the cup 2 and is secured about itscircular edge-part around the outer rim of the cup. It maybe glued or tied in position upon the cup, or it may be secured thereupon by a strip of adhesive tape, but, in order to provide for the convenient removal and replacement of the diaphragm,

Vor the substitution of another diaphragm therefor, it is shown in Fig. 4 as clamped in position by a spring-clip 5, which may be in the form of a wire split-ring (Fig. 6), and in Fig. 5 as secured by a band-collar or slipring 6 (Fig. 7), either of these retaining means being easily applied and removed, the spring-clip 5 being manipulated in an obvious manner by pinching together and releasing the outwardly turned prongs 7, and the slip-ring 6 being designed to be gently forced over the diaphragm to frictionally conne and. clamp the edge-part thereof against the rounded lip-flange 8 of the cup shown in Fig. 5.

In many instances, it is preferable to employ a valve-disc to cover the port to be controlled and to assist the seating of the valvedisc by a spring. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 4, and it is important to note that, with the valve-disc 9 centrally secured upon the face of the diaphragm 4 and the cylindrical expansion-spring 10 centrally positioned by its retention in the hollow s upport-stem 3, the lproper location of the valvedisc with respect to its port and its proper seating thereover is insured by the placing of the body 1 in position. Vith this arrangement of all of the parts upon a common axis, there is no need for inspection, after the valve-unit is placed in position, to determine ifV the valve-disc is in proper axial alignment with its port. Preferably, the support-stem 3 is slightly tapered, so that it may be plugged or wedged, like a bottle-cork, in the open end of its respective control-duct or channel (or in a larger hole or recessconnected therewith) v and frictionally held therein, without being cemented in position.

Referring, now, to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,

it will be noted that the top-board 11 is provided with the usual vertically extending pipe-holes 12 and horizontally extending note-channels 13. The different sets or Ystops of pipes are arranged in rows over their respective stop-chambers 14, transversely to the note-channels 13, the pipeholes for the'pipes of each stop passing between the note-channels and opening into their respective stop-chamber, and the selection or drawing of a stop comprises the admission of air-pressure or wind to the corresponding stop-chamber, all in the usual or any desired manner. Furthermore, each note-channel represents a certain note in the musical scale and is provided with the usual plurality of branch-channels or control-ducts 15, one for each pipe of the same note-denomination of all of tne stops, the application and release (or withdrawal) of air-pressure in each note-channel and its several branchchannels being controlled in the usual or any desired manner by the manipulation of the respective manual keys or by devices automatically controlled from a note-sheet (music-roll) ln Fig. 1, the partition 16 is shown as separating two stop-chambers 14 and supporting a valve-shelf 17 for each of the two stopchainbers. In the arrangement shown in this ligure, each branch-channel is itself branched, one branch thereof extending in each of the two valve-shelves 17.v Here, the two pipeholes 12 pertain to pipes of the same notedenomination in each of the two stops and are shown as bored straight through the topboard 11, the upper end of each boring being countersunk to provide the usual flared seat or socket in which the toe of trie respective pipe is stepped, while the lower end of each boring constitutes a downwardly presented port to be controlled by the raising and lowering of the valve-disc 9 of the respective vertically arranged valve-unit.

In Fig. 2, the pipe-holes 12 extend downwardly as pipe-channels in a bar 18 and terminatein laterally presented ports, which ports open alternately upon opposite sides of said bar to be controlled by the valve-discs 9 of the respective horizontally arranged valve-units. in this form of pipe-valvechest, the partitions 16 which separa-te the stop-chambers lelare not provided with valve-shelves and the valve-units are supported by the partitions.

In Fig. 3, the valve-units are shown in inverted position upon the lower face of the top-board 11, the hollow support-stems 3 connecting directly with their respective note-channels 13, thus dispensing with the employment of branch-channels altogether.

In each of the different forms of pipevalve-chests shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, provision is made for receiving the supportstem 3 of each valve-unit in a circular hole or recess which is positioned in axial alignment with the port-end of the pipe-hole (or of the pipe-channel forming an extension thereof) and is connected with its respective notechannel 13. Since the note-channels 13 must pass between the pipe-holes 12, either the branch-channels 15 or the pipe-channels connected with the pipe-holes must be offset in order to permit the aforesaid axial alignment of the ports and the holes or recesses for the support-stems 3 of the valve-units. Such offsets are indicated at 19 in each of the three Iigures mentioned.

The operation is as follows: Then a stop of pipes is to be employed, air-pressure or wind is admitted to the respective stopchamber 14. So long as air-pressure is maintained in the several note-channels 13, the diaphragms i of the valve-units pertaining to and connected with each note-channel will remain distended to close their respective ports and prevent the wind in the stop-chambers from blowing the pipes. As the respective manual keys or other controlling devices are operated to release or withdraw air-pressure from the note-channels 13, the wind which has been admitted to the one or more selected stop-chambers will force the corresponding diaphragms l of the valve-units away from their respective ports and sound the pipes served by such ports. Upon the restoration of air-pressure in the different note-channels, the diaphragms connected' ports.

therewith will be returned to their distended positions and close their ports.

lf the degree of air-pressure supplied to the note-channels is greater than that existing in the stop-chambers, the diaphragins will be blown into their distended positions and, as each valve-disc 9 (Figs. 1 and or the diaphragm l itself ig. 3) nears its respectivo port, the draft of wind through the still open port will assist in completing the valve-closing action. if, however, the degree of airpressure supplied to the note-channels is the same as that existing in the stop-chambers, the diaphragms will not be blown as aforesaid, but will only be placed in equilibrium and, with the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the draft of wind through the resnective ports may not be relied upon to eiiiect a sure and sufhciently quick valve-closing action, especially where the valves have been moved a considerable distance from their With the arrangement shown in F ig. 3, this condition would not pertain since, as long as the diaphragm retains its proper fle?- ibility, its tendency is to drop into value-closing position.

Vf ith the valve-units arranged as shown in `Figs. 1 and 2, it is therefore preferable, when the air-pressure served to the note-channels is not sutiicient to blow the valves closed, against the opposing action of the air-pressure in the stop-chamber, to employ the valvedisc-and-spring construction shown in Fic'. Ll. lith such construction, the valve-discs 9 not only serve to securely cover their respective ports, but also allow the valve-units to be positioned far enough away from the ports to afford ample clearance for the unobstructed passage of wind thereto to blow the respective pipes and, likewise, the springs 10 not only serve to lirmly and securely seat the valve-discs over their ports, but also constantly exert a valve-closing iniluence, such as will overcome the weight of the valve-discs and diaphragms when the valve-units are arranged as in Fig. 1, prevent tipping or sagging of the valve-discs and diaphragms when the valve-units are arranged as in Fig. 2, and provide a quick, responsive, and reliable operation in any arrangement in which the valves open to a considerable distance from their ports.

I claim- 1. 1n an organ, the combination, with a Vport to be controlled, of a valve-unit positioned to control said port comprising a body having a cup and a communicating hollow stem, and a llexible membrane secured to said body to cover said cup and to cover and uncover said port when operated.

2. In an organ, the combination, with a port to be controlled, of a valve-unit positioned to control said port comprising a body having a cup and a communicating hollow stem, a flexible membrane covering said cup and covering and uncovering said port when operated, and means releasably clamping said membrane in position upon said body.

3. n an organ, the combination, with a lirst member having a port to be controlled, land a second member spaced from said first member and provided with an opening facing said port and in axial alignment therewith, of a valve-unit positioned to control said port comprising` a body having a cup and a communicating hollow stem, and a flexible membrane secured to said body to cover said cup and to cover and uncover said port when operated; said valve-unit being arranged with said hollow stem entered in said opening and with said membranelocated adjacent said port.

4. In an organ, the combination, with a irst member having a port to be controlled, and a second member spaced from said rst member andprovided with an opening facing said port and in axial alignment therewith, of a valve-unit positioned to control said port comprising a body having a cup and a communicating hollow tapered stem, and a iiexible membrane secured to said body to cover said cup and to cover and uncover Vsaid port when operated; said valve-unit being arranged with said tapered stem removably wedged in said opening and with said membrane located'adjacent said port.

5. A valve-unit comprising a hollow bodymember having a Vcup-portion and an axially arranged stem-portion, and a exible membrane secured to said body-member and covering said cup-portion; said stem-portion constituting a support for said cup-portion, and said. membrane constituting a diaphragm-valve.

6. A valve-unit comprising a hollow bodymember having a cup-portion and an axially arranged tapered stem-portion, and a flexible membrane secured to said body-member and covering said cup-portion; said stem-portion constituting a hollow friction-plug supporting said cup-portion Vin elevated position, and said membrane constituting a diaphragm-valve.

7. A valve-unit comprising a hollow bodymember having a cup-portion and an axially arranged stem-portion, a flexible membrane covering said cup-portion, and a releasable ring-clamp frictionally securing said membrane in position upon said body-member.

8. A valve-unit comprising a hollow bodymember having a cup-portion and an axially arranged stem-portion, a flexible membrane secured to said body-member and covering said cup-portion, and a valve-disc centrally secured upon the outer face of said mem-- brane.

9. A valve-unit comprising a hollow bodymember having a cup-portion and an axially arranged stem-portion, a flexible membrane secured to said body-member and covering covering said cup-portion, a valve-disc centrally secured upon the outer face of said membrane, and a coiled spring positioned in axial alignment with said valve-disc, one endV of said spring being retained in said stemportion and the other end thereof acting upon the inner face of said membrane.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of December A.. D., 192e.

Gno. E. LA MARCHE. 

